MAHLON G HYLER, b 2 Sep 1823

HYLER, DURHAM, ROCHE

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 6/5/2004 at 08:41:04

Among the merchants of Bellevue none is considered more reliable than the subject of this sketch. Mahlon G. Hyler is a native of New York State, having been born in Sackett's Harbor, Jefferson County, Sept. 2, 1823. He is the son of John and Lucy Hyler, both of whom are natives of New York State. His paternal ancestors were of the Mohawk Valley Germans, and the maternal ancestors were New England Yankees. He had a number of relatives in the War of 1812, and many of his ancestors on his mother's side were soldiers in the Revolution. When Mr. Hyler was but ten years old he accompanied his mother to St. Clair County, Ill., where they made their home for eight years. In 1842 he came to this county with P.J. Potter, an uncle.

Mahlon Hyler was given the beginning of an education, which he constantly enlarged and broadened by reading, until he is now one of the most thoroughly posted men in this county. For a time after he arrived here he engaged in farming, but has been in the mercantile business much of the time since 1842, and continuously since 1852. Beginning as clerk, he was associated with his uncle, P.J. Potter, until 1852, after which time he went into business for himself with his cousin, L.B. Potter, with whom he was connected until 1861. At this time he formed a partnership with J.K. Perkins, who died in 1869. After the death of his partner Mr. Hyler became sole proprietor.

Besides having valuable property in the town, Mr. Hyler is also largely interested in land, mostly in Jo Daviess County, Ill. When he began here he had scarcely a dollar which he could call his own, being one of the many other poor boys who sought fortunes in the West. He has been the author of his own fortune, and is entirely a self-made man. He was married, on the 10th of June, 1849, to Jerusha Durham, who bore him four children: Lucy; Julia, the wife of Dr. Joseph Roche, dentist of Bellevue; Charles, foreman of Dorchester & Hughey's lumber-yard; Benjamin, a dentist at Savanna, Ill.

Our subject has served in the Town Council, and has been Mayor of Bellevue one year, and at an early day served as Town Clerk of Bellevue Township. He is one of the earliest settlers of this county, and has seen it grow up from a wild condition, and did considerable breaking up of land in the pioneer days. He has been successful in all his business undertakings. In politics, Mr. Hyler is a Republican, and has always been at the front in all plans for improving the county. He has been an active leader in the interests of the town of Bellevue, and is one of the most prominent and leading citizens.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)